EVOCATE Function and evolution of plant cell wall architecture for sustainable technologies

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When land plants evolved from green algae, their cell walls changed. The walls allow plant cells to expand into many shapes for multicellular growth and development, yet these walls also can provide the strength to support tall trees. To achieve the new and varied functions, land plants acquired additional cell wall polysaccharide components. These polymers interact to build distinct molecular arrangements or 'cell wall architectures', providing remarkably different material properties.Function and evolution of plant cell wall architecture for sustainable technologies (EVOCATE) aims to challenge long-held ideas of plant cell wall structure. By studying a range of land plants across evolution, we will investigate the hypothesis that cellulose and other wall polysaccharides have evolved varied and complementary structures that regulate the interactions of these polysaccharides in plant cell walls. EVOCATE will develop and apply advanced solid-state NMR techniques that allow us to measure polysaccharide structures, conformations and polymer interactions in intact cell walls. Our recent studies indicate previously unrecognised important cell wall functions for the polysaccharide known as glucomannan. We have evidence that this polysaccharide is essential for life of all land plants. We propose that the glucomannans interact with distinct types of cellulose fibrils. We will develop and apply genetic methods to manipulate the glucomannan structures to determine the polysaccharide structure-function relationships in assembly of functional cell wall architectures. EVOCATE will thereby develop new principles and models of plant cell wall assembly. We will demonstrate how multiple and varied architectures of cell walls contribute to the robust yet flexible properties that allow land plants to grow. The techniques and discoveries of EVOCATE will therefore underpin development of new applications of biomass for sustainable technologies.This is an ERC advanced Grant Award.